Pencil



Nov. 17, 1925. 1,56l,827

M. D. BRODYV PENGIL Filed May 20, 1922 y Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED sT'ATs 1561,82? -PVATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE D. BRODY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PENCIL.

Application fiifi May 20, 1822. a seriai'no. 562,302.

` following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in pencils -of the type in which leads may be placed one after another in the central part of the containing structure and forced from the point of the structure as' required, said leads being preferably of small diameter to avoid the necessity'of sharpening the lead. My invention refers particularly to providing a pencil of the kind descrioed with an improved type of magazine for containing extra leads together with devices for directing or fceding the reserve leads, one lat a time, into the central bore of the structure, in the path of the rod employed to force the central lead throughthe point of the structure of'tne pencil. By my invention the magazine referred to is given a capacity for containing a large number of reserve leads, which are inserted into the magazine without any care being taken a`s to order or arrangement and the directing devices for moving the reserve leads, one after another, to the central bore of the pencil structure, are constructed so that but one of the reserve leads is acted upon at a time by said directing devices and that, regardless of the arrangement of the leads in the magazine, one of the leads will be acted upon by the directing, devices to move it to a central position in the structure and that- "during this operation, only one of the leads from the magazine can be engaged by the direct'- ing devices and furthermore, that the direct ing devices during the use of the pencil` prevent the passagefrom the magazine of any of the leads.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings apreferred embodiment thereof in which,

' Fig. 1 is a long'itudinal, central, sectional view through the pencil, and

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are Sectional viewsA through the structure shown in Fig. 1 taken respectively along the lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5. z

,Similar numerals refer to Similar parts throughoutithe several views.

As shown in Jthe drawings my pencil structure consists of a thin outer shell 10, internally threaded at its ends to receive atthe point end of the pencil a similarly threaded short sleeve 11 having preferably a thicker.

wall than the tube 10, and a threaded plug 12 at its other end. Mounted within the Shell 10 is a tube 13 of considerably smal-ler external diameter than the internal diameter of the Shell 10, the said tube terminating at sired Vthat the tubebe removable from the shell or by soldering,br`azing or equivalent means where it is desired that the tube be permanently retainedin the. Shell. vBeginning at the head 14, a helical web 15 extends from the outer surface of the tube 13, the

outer diameter of this webbeing equal toV 'the inner diameter of the Shell 10. The helical passageway formed between the shell 10 and tube 13 forms the magazine for thereserve leads carried by, the pencil and to facilitate placing the leads in the magazine, an admission opening 16 iS formed through the head 111 which is uncovered by removing the plug 12 from the Shell 10. The tube 13 is provided at its other end with an end wall 17 of a diameter vfitting the bore of the shell 10 and the web 15 extends to this end wall, the outer face of which wall is some distance inside the corresponding end of the shell 10. For a distance somewhat greater than half the length of the leads' to be used with the pencil, the left` hand end of the tube 13 as shown in the draw- .ings is provided with a bore 18 of Substantially the diameter of the leads used and from vthe right hand end of this bore as shown in the drawings, the tube 13 is provided with a considerably larger bore 19 which is internally threaded throughout its 'length to engage the similarly threaded edges of a cross-head 20 secured to the right hand end of the feeding rod 21.

The plug 12 is provided with a bore throughout its length of a diameter to clear the threads on the cross-head 20. At its *right hand end the plug 12 is of much rediameter of the plug 12 and the outer diameter of the shell 10, said cap being internally threaded at its outer end to receive the eraser 22a. The cap 41 turns freely on 5 the plug 12 and has secured to it bars 22 extending into the larger bore of the tube 13 on either side of the cross head 20, to turn said cross head in the thread in the tube 13 and the other ends'of these bars 22 are secured to the retaining plug 23 loosely contained in the left hand end of the larger bore in the tube 13, which plug is bored to loosely receive the rod '21. As a result of the construction described, when the cap 41 15 is turned, the cross-head is moved longitudinally of the pencil to correspondingly movethe rod 21 in the smaller bore 18 of the tube 13 to either feed the lead through w the point of the pencil or to move the rod to 2(2 its right hand position, as shown in the drawings, to permit the insertion of a fresh lead.

The outer end of the sleeve l`11 is preferably counterboredv slightly and the inner 25 endeof `the-*counter bore is provided with an outwardly extending groove 11a to receive with a sliding fit the similarly formed right hand end of the tip 24. A feeding member 25 is contained between the head 17 and the tip v24, said member being provided at its o left hand end with a head 26 externally threaded to engage similar internal threads in the right hand end of the tip to hold the parts securely together and the right hancl end of the member 25 is provided with a head 27 adjacentthe head 17 and 'of a diameter equal to the bore of the shell 10. As a result o'f the construction described turning the tip 24 relatively to the shell 10 turns the heads 17 and 27 relatively to each other. Themember 25 is 'provided with a central bore 28 of substantially the diameter of the lead used in the pencil and on one side of said bore said member is extended practically the entire distance between the head 17 and the sleeve 11 to engage with a sliding fit the inner surface of the shell 10 and in Vthis extension a radially curved slot 29 is formed extending from the central bore to the outer surface of the extension, the left hand wall of said slot having an inclined surface 30 for directing leads that enter the slot 29, towards the central bore. The left hand end of the tube 13 is provided with a radially curved slot 31 similar to the slot 29 but of reversed curvature which extends through the head 17, the curvature of the two slots being such, as more clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, that for any angular position of the member 25 relatively to the head 17, only sutficient of the two slots will be in alignment with each other at any time to permit the passage from the slot 31 to the slot 29 of but one lead. One wall of the 6 slot 31 as indicated at 31a is extended to the inner surface of the shell 10 between the head 17 and the Web 15 longitudinally of the pencil to limit the helical motion of the leads as' they pass through the magazine and align them parallel with the axis of the pencil for passage through the slots 31 and bore. 'The tip 24 is then turned to move the i overlapping portions of the slots 29 and 31 towards the central bore and the engaged lead is similarly moved with the result that when only the central portion of the slots 31 and 29 overlap, the lead lies in the central bore of the pencil provided for receiving it. In this position the rod 21 is moved towards the lead and forces it through the tip of the pencil. A guiding tube 32 is mounted' in the tip 24 between its point and the head 26 of the directing member, the bore of this guiding tube being substantially the diameter of the leads to direct the leads from the directing member to the delivery end of the pencil. One of the heads 17 and 27, for example the head 27 may carry a pin 33 projecting into an arcuate groove 34 in the outer face of the other one of said heads, for example the vhead 17 to limit the amount of rotation that may be imparted to the tip 24 relatively to the shell 10 so that for one extreme position of the shell the outer por- ,tions of the slots 29 and 31 are in alignment and for the other extreme position of the shell only the portions corresponding to the central bore of the pencil are inalignment.

From the above description it will appear that the entire space between the shell 10 and the tube 13 may be filled with leads from the head 17 to the head 14 and that the' leads may be fed to the central portion of the pencil one after another as required by turning the tip of the pencil after withdrawing the feeding rod and further that during the use of the pencil the feeding or directing member prevents any of the leads from leaving the magazine and entering the slot 29 thus avoiding the danger of jamming the leads.

The tube 13 is preferably spaced from the shell 10 a radial distance suflicient to pre vent the leads departing Vmaterially from parallelism with the axis of the pencil, for

it will be noted that the` spaced. continuous Walls of the magazine. completely surrounding the aXis of the pencil, retain the leads in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the pencil unless the distance between in the rotatable tip w versely directed slot 31 the walls is large, and this of,itself.eliminates to a large degree any tendency of the leads to jam in the magazine; it will also be noted that the helical web, Ahaving as it does, a pitch distance preferably but little greater than the length of the leads, effectively distributes the leads inv the magazine and permits completely filling the magazine space with leads without danger lof jamm'ing of the leads since they are prevented aby said web from engaging each otherin end to end relation. The relation of the walls of the magazine to each other and the disposition of said web between said walls, insure the complete filling. of said magazine with leads and the symmetrical arrangement of. the eXtra leads ata-ll times throughout the entire magazine, aswell as insuring `free movement of the leads through the magazine and the presenting of the leads in proper relation 'to the directing and feeding member to be removed by it one at a time from the magazine.

The parts cooperating to control the 'feedingoperation refe'rred'to are the slot 29 in the portion of the pencil adjac'ent to the rotatable'tip, the latter slot opening into the magazine. Several factors are to be borne in mind in considering this operation, first that the radic'al thickness of the magazine compartment is preferably but slightly in excess ot thediameter of the leads to be used in the pencil; second, that the pitch of the helical Web 15 is but slightly greater than the length of the leads to be used with the pencil; third, that ther width of each of the helical slots 29 and 31 is but slightlyV in excess of the di.- ameter of the leads to.,-be used; fourth, that the helical slots both'extend from the axis of the pencil to the inner surface of the enclosing shell 10; and fifth, that the helical slots 29 and 31 are so related that for one extreme position of the rotary Vtip relatively` to the-magazine, the extreme outer edge'portions of the slots 29 and 31V are vin lalignment with each oth-er in line with the' first lead in the magazine available for delivery therefrom and that for all other relative positions of the rotatable tip, the portion of the slot 31 in line rwith the leads in the magazine, is closed by the end wall 27 of the rotatable tip, although portions of the slots 29 and 31 nearer the axis ofthe pencil are still in alignment with each other, the limiting position of rotary movement in the reverse direction of that permitting the entry of a lead into the slot 29, interrupting communication between the slots 29 and 31 excepting at their extreme inner ends inthe axis of the pencil and inline with the feeding rodi21, where they are always in allgnment and communicate with each other. In use therefore, there is no communication vbetween the slots 29 and the similar but reand 31 excepting in the axis of the pencil, the communicating opening being of substantially the diameter of the lead used in the pencil but not a tight enough fit on the lead to prevent its free movement 'through the communicating opening. The wall 31a of the slot 31 extends to the inner surface of the shell 10 and thus forms the limiting side wall of the magazine adjacent the rotatable tip to align the leads at this point in parallel relation with the axis of the pencil, ready for passage' through the communicating opening between the slots 29 and 31 when the rotatable'tip is turned so that the outermost portion of its slot is in alignment with the ouztermost portion of the slot 81. It

Will be noted that the, length of the slot 31,

axially of `the pencil, excepting at its outermost portion in the magazine of the pencil, is but slightly greater than half the length of the leads used 'With the pencil.

In' view of the above, when communication between the slots 29 and31 is inter-v rupted in alignment with the magazine, which it will be borne in mind is of a thickness slightly greater than the diameter of the lead, the foremost lead in position to pass into the rotatable tip, lies against the wall 31a in the magazine in parallel relation with the axis of the pencil about half of the lead being in the outermost portion of the slot 31 and the other half still retained between the parallel cylindrical walls of the magazine, which latter walls .prevent the forward end of the lead from movement radially in the slot 31 towards 'the aXis of the pencil. Movement of the lead into the rotatable tip is prevented by the end wall 27 When it is desired to feed a new lead into the roi tatable tip is rotated to its other extreme position, which moves 'the outer portion of the slot, 29 into alignment with the lead in ireadiness to pass into the rotatable tip.

None of the other leads are in alignnie-nt with the outer portion of the slot 29 and therefore only the foremost lead can pass into the slot 29 when the pencil is held in a position paermittingr the foremost lead'to pass by gravity into the tip. lVhen the forcmost lead has passed into the slot 29 sufficiently to engage the end wall of the slot, about half of the lead is in the slot 29 and the remaining half is in the slot 31,. the latter half of the'lead however being now entirely clear of the retaining cylindrical walls of the magazine and in ali-gnment with the inner portion of the slot 31. The rotatablc tip is now rotated to feed the foremost leadtowards the axis of the pencil. As this is done the foremost lead is moved from its limiting position in the magazine radially and the next lead in the magazine may take llO its place, but at tlie same time communication between the slots 29 and 31 at their outermost portions in alignment With the second lead which now rests against-'the Wall 31a in tlie magazine, is intei'rupted preventing the second lead froin passing into the i'otatable tip. The sliape of the slots 20 and 31 is such that if the lea-d `isheld iii either of tliem so that, it is prevented `vfrom angular moveiiient and maintained practically parallel With the axis of the pencil, rotary movement of the slotted member will move the lead towards the axis of the pencil by a kind of cain action, the lead being at'all times substantially parallel with the axis of the peiicil. As a result of the slots being of a thickiiess biit slightly greater than the diameter of the lead, and substantially half of the lead being in one slot and half in the other, the position of 'the lead with regard to the axis of the pencil is at all times determined by the relative relation of the tip and magazine portions of the pencil relatively to each other and fiirthermore the relation is such that but one lead at any time can occupy a position partly in one of said slots and partly in the other of said slots. During moveinent of the lead toWardS, the axis of the pencil, while Ozi-1` of the slots might at any time pei'iiiit an angular displaceinent of the lead in it relatively to the axis of the pencil`` the other of said slots prevents that particular angular displacementfor the reason that the reverse relation of the slots and their curved nature causes the Walls of one slot to extend substantiallyat right angles to the walls of the other` slot at the communicating portions of the slots and thus each slot prevents any substantial amount of angular displacement of the lead in the other slot and the lead is maintainecl during the feeding operation substantially in parallel relation with the axis of the pencil. During the feeding operation each slot serves to hold the lead being fed, against angular moveinent corresponding` with the relative rotation of the rotary tip and each slot therefore serves to hold the lead so that it may be acted upon by the feedin-g cam surface of the othei` slot and the combined action of the two slots on the lead due to rotary movement of the tip is to move the. lead axially towards the axis of the pencil until finally it is coaxial therewith at the time the tip reaches the end of its rotary movement and at which time the only portions of the slots in communication with each other are their axial portions. At this time therefore the foremost lead is in line with the rod 21 in position to be fed thereby of the pencil may be assembled and lield together With va minimum amount of soldering which is desirable in the construction of pencils of this kind. In carrying out my invention, while it is desirable lto maiiufacture alL,\

of the parts of inetal, it will be understood tliat I do not limit myself to any particular material in carrying out my invention and furtlierinore that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and deseribed but that I may employ any equivalents known to the art at the time of 'the filing` of this application without departing from the scope of the appended clai'ms.

VVha't I claim is:

1. In a pencil, the combination of an enter shell, a tube Within said shell and spaced thercfrom-to form a. magazine, lead feeding devices Within said tube, a tip carried by one end of said shell, and a directing niember Within said Shell adjacent said tip .for directing` leads froin said magazine'into the path of said feeding devices, said tube having an outWardly extending lielical Web providing a lielical path for the leads in said magazine.

2. In a pencil, |the combination of aii outer sliell, a tiibe within said sliell and spaced tlierefroin to form a magazine, lead feeding devices within said tiibe, a. tip carried by one end of said sliell, and a directing nieinbei' Within said shell adjacent said tip for directing leads from said magazine into the path of said feeding devices, said tube having an outwardly extending helical Web pro- Viding a lielical path for the leads in said magazine and said tip and said member being connected, whereby turning said tip moves an engaged lead from said magazine into the path of said feeding devices.

3. In a pencil, the combination of a`n outer shell, a tube within said sliell and spaced therefroin to form a inagazine, lead feeding devices within said tube, a tip carried by one end of said shell, and a directing member Within said Shell adjacent said tip for directing leads from said magazine into the path of said feeding devices, said member being rotary in said shell and having a radially cui'ved slot therethrough extending outwardly from the axis of said member and the adjacent end of said magazine having therethrough a similar slot of reverse curvatiire cooperatingr with said first slot, whereby leads are delivered one at a time to saic member. 'I'

4. In a pencil, the combination of an outer shell, a tube Within said sliell and spaced tlierefrom to form a magazine, lead feeding devices Within said tube, atip carried by one end of said shell, and a"directing member i cs - cooperating with Said first Slot, whereby leads are delivered one at a time to Said member and said tube havin an outwardly extending helical Web providing a helical path for the leads in 'said' magazine.

5. Ina pencil, thecombination of an outer Shell, 'a tube Within said Shell andspaced therefrom to form a magazine, -lead feeding devices within vSaid tube, a tip carried by one end of Said'shell, land a directing member within said Shell adjacent Said tip for directing leads from said magazine into the' path of said feeding devices, Said member being rotary in said Shell and having a radially curved slot therethrough extending outwardly from the axiS of Said member and the adjacent end of said magazine having therethrough a similar slot of reverse curvature cooperating with said first slot, Whereby leads are delivered one at a time to said member and said tip and said member being connected, whereby turning'said tip moves an en aged lead from said magazine into the pat of Said feeding devices.

6. In a pencil, the combination of an outer Shell, a t' be within said Shell and Spaced therefrom to form a magazine, lead feeding devices within said tube, a tip carried by one end of Said Shell, and' a directing member within said Shell adjacent said tip for directing leads from Said magazine into the path of said feeding devices, said member and the adjacent end of said magazine having cooperating Surfaces permitting but one lead at' a time to be `delivered' to said member and'said tube having an outwardly extending helical web providing a helical path for the leads in said magazine.

7.. In a pencil, the combination of an outer Shell, a tube within 'Said Shell and spaced therefrom to form a magazine, lead feeding devices within Said tube, a vtip carried by one end of said Shell, and a directing member within Said Shell adjacent said tip for -directing leads from Said magazine into the path of said being rotary in Said Shell and having a radially curved Slot therethrough extending outwardly from the adjacent end of said magazine having therethrough a Similar slot of reverse curvature cooperating with said firSt Slot,wherebv leads are delivered one at a time to Said member and Said tube having an outwardly extending helical web providing a helical path for the leads in Said magazine, said tip and Said member being connected, whereby feeding devices, said member' the axis of Said .member andturning Said tip moves an engaged lead from Said magazine into the path of Said feeding devices.

8. In a pencil, the comb-ination of an outer Shell, a tube Within Said Shell and Spaced therefrom to form a magazine, lead feeding devices within Said tube, a tip carried by one end of Said Shell, and a directing member within saidz Shell adjacent'said tip for directing leads from Said magazine into the path of Said feeding devices, Said member and the adjacent end of Said magazine having cooperating surfaces permitting but one lead, at a time to be delivered to Said member and said tube having an outwardly extending helical web providing a helical path for 'the leads in saidmagazine, said tip and Said member being connected, Whereby turning Said tip moveS an engaged lead from said magazine into the path of Said feeding devices. 1

9. In a pencil, the combination of a Shell,- lead feeding devices in said Shell, a magazine for extra leads in Said Shell, and a member for directing leads from said magazine 'into the ath of Said feeding devices, said member eing rotary in Said hell and having a radially curved Slottherethrough extending outwardly from the axis of said member and the adjacent end of Said magazine having therethrough a similar slot'of reverse curvature cooperating with Said first slot, whereby leads are delivered one at a time to Said' the path of Said feeding devices, Said member-being rotary in Said Shell and having a radially curved 'slot therethrough extending outwardly from the axis of Said member and the adjacent end of lsaid magazine having therethrough a Similar slot of reverse curvature cooperating with Said first Slot, whereby leads are' delivered one at a time to said member 'and Said feeding devices comprising a feeding rod, a cross-head Secured to Said rod and having opposite threaded'edges, Said tube being internally threaded to engage Said threaded edges, bars extending through Said tube for engaging said cross-head between Said threaded edges, and a cap rotary on* Said Shell and Secured to said barS.

11. In a pencil, the combination of two tubes disposed one within the other in spaced relation to form a magazine for leads between said tubes, devices for feeding a lead from the pencil, the radial distance between said tubes being greater than the diameter of said leads and of an amount to retain the leads in Said magazine in substantially parallel relation to the axis of said pencil, and a helical Wall extending through said magazine to distribute the leads throughout the magazine.

12. In a pencil, the combination o-f a shell` a magazine of annular cross section Within said Shell for holding extra leads devices for feeding a lead from the pencil` and a hclical Wall extending through said magazine to distribute the leads throughout the magazme.

13. A magazine for a pencil comprising two continuous Walls enclosing the axis of the pencil and separated a suflicient distance to retain a plurality of extra leads therein substantially parallel with said axis, and a helical Wall extendinzI between said continuous walls to distribute the extra leads throughout the magazine. a.

14. In a pencil, the combination of a body portion comprising a first part adjacent the tip portion of the pencil and a second part cngaging said first part and extending therefrom away from said tip portion, said parts being rotary relatively to each other, a magazine for extra leads in said second part, a guideway in said first part for directing a lead to be used towards the axis of the pencl, said parts having cooperating openings permitting the passage of but| one lead at a time Jr'rom said magazine to said guideway for one relative position of said parts, another relative position of said parts interrupting communication between said openings, and a second guideway carried by said second part out of line with said openings cooperating With said first named guideway to move a lead towards the axis of the poncil by relative rotation of said Darts.

In Witness Whereof, I hereunto Subscribe my name this '18th day of May, A. D. 1922. MAURICE D. BRODY. 

